15 Memorable Stephen Hawking Quotes

The world lost a brilliant mind today. Stephen Hawking, the renowned British physicist, has passed away at the age of 76. When he was just 21, Hawking was diagnosed with ALS, a rare neurodegenerative disease. He was given only a few years to live by doctors.

Despite the disease leaving him wheelchair-bound and paralyzed, Hawking overcome these obstacles to become one of the greatest minds of our time. Hawking was known for merging Einstein’s theory of relativity with quantum theory, suggesting that space and time began with the Big Bang, and would end in black holes. He made many lasting contributions to the field of science, and his books, including “A Brief History of Time,” have sold millions of copies.

ALS left Hawking without the ability to speak, though he remained able to communicate through a speech-generating device. His words, both spoken and written, will live on for years to come, helping to inspire future generations of young scientists.

Here Are 15 Memorable Stephen Hawking Quotes

On Disabilities:

“If you are disabled, it is probably not your fault, but it is no good blaming the world or expecting it to take pity on you. One has to have a positive attitude and must make the best of the situation that one finds oneself in; if one is physically disabled, one cannot afford to be psychologically disabled as well.”

“My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus.”

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. Where there’s life, there’s hope.”

“The downside of my celebrity is that I cannot go anywhere in the world without being recognized. It is not enough for me to wear dark sunglasses and a wig. The wheelchair gives me away.”

On Living Your Life:

“Life would be tragic if it weren’t funny”.

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.”

“Next time someone complains that you have made a mistake, tell him that may be a good thing. Because without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.”

On Intelligence:

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”

“People who boast about their I.Q. are losers.”

“I believe alien life is quite common in the universe, although intelligent life is less so. Some say it has yet to appear on planet Earth.”

On Communication:

“People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.”

“Quiet people have the loudest minds.”

“For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination. We learned to talk and we learned to listen. Speech has allowed the communication of ideas, enabling human beings to work together to build the impossible. Mankind’s greatest achievements have come about by talking, and its greatest failures by not talking.”

On Understanding Our Place in the Universe:

“My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.”

“We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.”

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